May 28 & 29, 2020 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/29/2020
Manufactured 1935, Serial number 98 with tangent rear sight and slotted for detachable shoulder stock. Drift adjustable barleycorn front sight with single action operation and magazine safety. Checkered walnut grips and round hammer. Rust blue finish with slide marked "FABRIQUE NATIONALE D'ARMES DE GUERRE HERSTAL BELGIQUE" with Belgian proofs on slide barrel and frame. This extremely low serial number example has the type 2 tangent sight and has the early non-painted interior on the grips. Matching numbers found on slide barrel and frame. CONDITION: Very good with over 85% factory rust blue finish remaining with typical losses at leading edges of frame high points of sights light finish thinning at front and rear grip straps. Bore is very fine with sharp rifling. Grips are very good with slight period wear with no material loss or chips but a small crack at top rear of right panel. Action operates properly. A barely visible import marking from Simpson Limited is evident at bottom of magazine well and not visible when magazine is inserted. This is the earliest example we have observed commercially available to collectors and is surely to be the centerpiece of any Browning collection. TDW
Manufacturer
Fabrique Nationale